Red Skelton Pledge Of Allegiance

The following words were spoken by the late Red
Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr.
Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as
merely something to recite in class each day.

Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these
words.

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the
Pledge of Allegiance all semester

and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to
you.

If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you
the meaning of each word?"

I

me, an individual, a committee of one.

Pledge

dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self
pity.

Allegiance

my love and my devotion.

To the flag

our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom.
Wherever

she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given

her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's
job!

United

that means that we have all come together.

States

individual communities that have united into 48 great
states.

Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and

purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to

a common purpose, and that's love for country.

And to the
republic

a state in which sovereign power is

invested in representatives chosen by the

people to govern. And government is the people

and it's from the people to the leaders, not from

the leaders to the people.

For which it stands, one nation

one nation, meaning "so

blessed by God"

Indivisible

incapable of being divided.

With liberty

which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's

own life without threats, fear or some sort of

retaliation.

And Justice

the principle or quality of dealing fairly with
others.

For all

which means, boys and girls, it's as much your

country as it is mine.

***~~**~~***

Since I was a small boy, two states have been
added to our country

and two words have been added to the pledge of
Allegiance...

UNDER
GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said

that is a prayer

and that would be eliminated from schools
too?

God Bless America!

It is the VETERAN, not the
preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,

who serves under the Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT

SHINE UPON THEM.

I don't know if you saw
this in the news but it really impressed me. Funny,
our US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work.

On the ABC evening news, it was reported tonight that, because of
the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC,
the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the
assignment.

They refused. "No way, Sir!"

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical
storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an
assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a
serviceperson.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be
DAMN proud if this one reached as many as possible.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no
matter where they serve.